Decorative ornamental beads

ABSTRACT

A decorative bead is having an open and closed position is disclosed herein. The bead has a first side and second side. A hinged portion is interposed between the first and second sides. The body of the bead all has at least one magnet therein so that multiple beads may be linked together.

RELATED APPLICATION

The present invention claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/739,533 filed on Dec. 19, 2012 and incorporates the application by reference as if fully rewritten herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to interchangeable jewelry. More particularly, the present invention relates to interchangeable jewelry fitting around a string or thread.

BACKGROUND

The human population has been ornamenting itself for thousands of years. Over time, trends with respect to what is popular change frequently based on the fashion of the time and consumer demands. Of the different types of ornamentation, some of the most popular are beads and pendants. Beaded ornamentation is generally inexpensive and allows user to customize the ornamentation by combining different colors, patterns and textures. The ability to customize the ornamentation allows individuals to inexpensively keep up with ever changing fashion trends and to coordinate the beaded ornamentation with other accessories or clothing.

While beaded ornamentation is know in the prior art, most beaded ornamented articles are limited to bracelets, necklaces, anklets and the like. However, there is a growing desire among individuals to accessorize clothing and shoes. While traditional beaded ornamentation may be added to shoes or clothing during the manufacturing process, traditional beaded ornamentation does not allow individuals to customize the beads. Therefore, there is a need for beaded ornamentation allowing users to customize clothing and shoes to quickly and easily keep up with fashion trends or to coordinate with other clothing or accessories.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIVE CONCEPT

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention therefore has the objective to overcome the drawbacks in traditional beaded ornamentation, in particular to provide a simple and easy way for individuals to add beaded ornamentation to shoes or clothing.

Exemplary embodiments have a body portion having an open position and a closed position. A hinged portion is interposed between a first side and a second side. The hinged portion allows the first and second portions to be moved from the open to closed position. Indentions are provided in the ends of the first side to allow the passage of a strap, string, filament, or other similar article to pass there through. The indentions may be concave or any other shape sufficient to accommodate the articles.

To keep the bead closed an attachment device may be molded into or cast into the bead. In other exemplary embodiments, the latching mechanisms may be temporarily or permanently attached to the first and second sides. In addition, the hinged portion may be bias to force the bead into the closed position. This biased hinged portion would also prevent the bead from opening unexpectedly.

The ends of the bead may also be magnetic. A magnetic material may be cast or molded into the bead or the magnetic material may be attached to the ends. The magnets allow multiple beads to be linked together to produce a chain of linked beads.

The exterior of the beads may be decorated or may be adapted to fit inside a decorative shell. In other exemplary embodiments, the decorative shell may be wrapped around the bead. In still other exemplary embodiments, the second side of the bead may allow for the temporary attachment of a variety of different decorative features.

In other exemplary embodiments, the bead may accommodate more than one strap, string or filament. In this embodiment, at least two indentions are preset in each end of the bead. The position of the indentions may be adjusted so as to direct the path of the strap, string or filament.

In other exemplary embodiments, the bead is a hollow cylinder having magnetic ends. In this embodiment, the strap, string, filament may be threaded through the hollow interior of the bead.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In addition to the features mentioned above, other aspects of the inventive concept will be readily apparent from the following descriptions of the drawings and exemplary embodiments, wherein like reference numerals across the several views refer to identical or equivalent features, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of an ornamented clip-on bead according to the inventive concept;

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of an ornamented slide-on bead according to the inventive concept;

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of an ornamented bead according to the inventive concept having a top attachment surface; and

FIG. 4 illustrates the various exemplary embodiments according to the inventive concept brought together to decorate an article of footwear.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT(S)

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a bead 5 having an elongated body 10 according to the inventive concept. The exterior of the bead 5 may be decorative or have a decorative coveringthereon. As seen in FIG. 1, the bead 5 also has a longitudinal axis. The elongated body 10 of the bead 5 may be opened forming a first side 15 and a second side 20 having a hinged portion 25 therebetween. The first and second sides 15, 20 rotate about the hinged portion 25 so that they may be removably attached one to another opposite the hinged portion 25 in order to open and close the bead 5. The hinged portion 25 may be a barrel hinge or other similar hinge. In still other exemplary embodiments the hinged portion 25 may simply be a portion of the body 5 allowing movement similar to a hinge, such as thin area allowing for movement. The ability to open and close allows the bead 5 to be placed on a filament, string, or other similar article without having to thread the filament or string through the bead 5. Thus the bead 5 would be able to be placed on pre-manufactured articles of clothing including shoes.

To ensure the bead 5 remains in a closed position the first and second sides 15, 20 may have a molded or cast latching mechanism 30. In other exemplary embodiments, the latching mechanism 30 may be attached thereto, using adhesives or mechanical fasteners. In addition, in some exemplary embodiments the hinge portion 25 of the bead 5 may be biased to toward the closed position by a spring or other similar device. In embodiments having a biased hinge portion 25, the latching mechanism 30 may be unnecessary to keep the bead 5 in the closed position and may be removed from the bead 5.

As further illustrated in FIG. 1, the first and second sides 15, 20 have end portions 35. The end portions 35 may have have indented portions 40 arranged normal to the longitudinal axis of the body 10. The indented portions 40 allow the filament, string or other similar article to which the bead 5 is to be placed on to nest therein. The depth of the indentions 40 may be adjusted to accommodate a variety of materials. The depth of the indentions 40 may also be adjusted depending on the desired function of the bead 5. In exemplary embodiments where it is desired that the bead 5 move freely along the string or filament the area of the indentions 40 in the end portion 35 may be greater than the area of the string or filament when the bead 5 is in the closed position. In other exemplary embodiments, the area of the indentions 40 may be less than the string or filament when in the closed position, thus compressing the filament and preventing movement of the bead 5 relative to the string or filament. In still other exemplary embodiments, the second portion 20 may not have any indentions 40, but rather have a flat surface adapted to engage the first portion 15.

The end portions 35 may also be magnetic. In exemplary embodiments having magnetic end portions 35, a magnetic material may be molded or casting into the end portions 35. In other exemplary embodiments, the magnetic material may be permanently or temporarily affixed to the end portions by adhesives or other similar products. The magnetic material is arranged so that several beads 5 may be held together forming a chain or string of beads, as shown in FIG. 4. This magnetic attraction allows the bead 5 to remain in contact and be positioned correctly even when applied to articles that are in motion such as shoes while walking.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a slide-on bead 45 according to the inventive concept. As shown in FIG. 2, the bead 45 has an elongated body portion 50 having a longitudinal axis. An aperture 55 is present in the bead 45 running parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bead 45. The aperture 55 is sufficiently sized to allow a string or filament to be threaded through the bead 45. The bead 45 has end portions 60. Like the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the end portions 60 may be magnetic. The magnetic material may be molded or cast into the bead 45 or affixed thereto.

Although the beads 5, 45 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 have elongated bodies and a circular cross-section it should be understood by those skilled in the art that the body of the beads 5, 45 may have any shape, including but not limited to, spherical, rectangular, triangular, or other similar geometric or decorative shape. In addition, the beads 5, 45 may be constructed from a variety of materials, including, but not limited to, metal, ceramic, plastic, wood, and other similar materials.

In other exemplary embodiments, the beads 5, 45 may be frameworks to which decorative exteriors are applied. In one embodiment, the bead 5 may be in closed position and a shell of decorative material may be added thereto. The decorative shell may be slid over the body 10 or may be wrapped around the body 10. The use of the beads 5, 45 as a framework allows multiple functions rather than being locked into a particular decorative style or motif.

FIG. 3 illustrates another exemplary embodiment of a clip-on bead 70 shown in an open configuration. The bead 70 has a first side 75 and a second side 80 having a hinged portion 85 therebetween. Similarly to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the first and second sides 75, 80 rotate about the hinged portion 85 to open and close the bead 70 around a string, filament, or other similar article avoiding the need to thread the string or filament through the bead 70.

To ensure the bead 70 remains in a closed position the first and second sides 75, 80 may have a molded or cast latching mechanism 90. Other exemplary embodiments may utilize an attached latching mechanism 90. The latching mechanism 90 may be attached using adhesive, mechanical fasteners, or other similar devices or compounds. To assist in closing the bead 70 the hinged portion 85 may be biased toward the closed position by a spring or other similar device. In embodiments having a biased hinged portion 85 a latching mechanism 90 may be unnecessary.

As further illustrated in FIG. 3, the first side 75 has end portions 95. The end portions 95 of the first and second sides 75, 80 have indented portions 100. The indented portions 100 allow nesting of the filament, string or other similar article therein. As shown in FIG. 3, the bead 70 accommodates at least two strings or filaments in two different passageways when in the closed position. This feature is further illustrated in FIG. 4. The depth of the indentions 100 may be adjusted to accommodate a variety of materials. The depth of the indentions 100 may also be adjusted depending on the desired function of the bead 70. In exemplary embodiments where it is desired that the bead 70 move freely along the string or filament the area of the indention 100 in the end portion 95 may be greater than the area of the string or filament when the bead 70 is in the closed position. In other exemplary embodiments, the area of the indention 100 may be less than the string or filament when in the closed position, thus compressing the filament and preventing movement of the bead 70 relative to the string or filament. In still other exemplary embodiments, it may unnecessary to have indentions 40 in the second side 80. In this embodiment, the second side 80 has a flat surface adapted to engage the first side 75.

In some exemplary embodiments, the indentions 100 may be arranged in a variety of positions in the end portions 95 to affect the path of the string or filament through the bead 70. In this manner the bead 70 may influence the path of the string or filament. This feature of the invention may be extremely useful when used in conjunction with the convertible shoes as described in co-pending entitled CONVERTIBLE FOOTWEAR by Lisa Chapin filed Dec. 19, 2012 (U.S. Patent Application No. 61/739,526).

As with the other embodiments the magnetic material may also be incorporated into its design. The bead 70 may have magnetic end portions 95. The magnetic material may be molded or cast into the end portions 95. In other exemplary embodiments, the magnetic material may be permanently or temporarily affixed to the end portions 95. With the use of magnetic material the beads 5, 45, 70 held together to decorate an article of clothing such as shoes as shown in FIG. 4.

In addition, the second side 80 of the bead 70 provides a platform for the attachment of a variety of different decorative ornaments. The decorative ornaments may be permanently or temporarily attached to the exterior of the second side 80. Although shown having a rectangular shape, the bead 70 may have a variety of shapes, including but limited to, spherical, rectangular, triangular, or other similar geometric or decorative shape. In addition, the bead 70 may be constructed from a variety of materials, including, but not limited to, metal, ceramic, plastic, wood, and other similar materials.

FIG. 4 illustrates beads 5, 45, and 70 linked together to decorate a strap on a shoe. As shown, the beads 5, 45, and 70 are held together by the magnetic material.

While certain embodiments of the present invention are described in detail above. The scope of the invention is not to be considered limited by such disclosure, and modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention as evidenced by the following claims: 

What is claimed is:
 1. A decorative ornament comprising: a body portion, said body portion having a first side and a second side, said first side having end portions; a hinged portion interposed between said first and second sides; at least one indention in each said end portion; and a magnet is association with each said end portions.
 2. The decorative ornament of claim 1, further comprising a latching mechanism molded into at least one of said first and second sides.
 3. The decorative ornament of claim 1, further comprising a latching mechanism affixed to at least one of said first and second sides.
 4. The decorative ornament of claim 1, wherein the said hinged portion is biased towards a closed position.
 5. The decorative ornament of claim 1, wherein said at least one indention is concave and is arranged normal to the longitudinal axis of said body.
 6. The decorative ornament of claims 1, further comprising at least two indentions in each said end portion.
 7. The decorative ornament of claim 1, wherein said area of said indentation, when said bead is in a closed position, is greater than the area of an article passing through said bead.
 8. The decorative ornament of claim 1, wherein said area of said indentation, when said bead is in a closed position, is less than the area of an article passing through said bead.
 9. A decorative ornament of claim 1, wherein said second side is adapted to temporarily attach decorative features.
 10. A decorative ornament, comprising: a body portion having a first side and a second side, said body portion having an open and closed position; a hinged portion interposed between said first side edge and second side edge, said hinged portion allowing said first and second sides to rotate relative to one another; at least one indention in said first edge at an end portion, said end portion having a concave shape; a magnet in association with at least one end portion of said first edge; and a latching mechanism, said latching mechanism affixing said first side to said second side when said body position is in the closed position.
 11. The decorative ornament of claim 10, further comprising a latching mechanism molded into at least one of said first and second sides.
 12. The decorative ornament of claim 10, further comprising a latching mechanism affixed to at least one of said first and second sides.
 13. The decorative ornament of claim 10, wherein the said hinged portion is biased towards said closed position. 